Scoring sweet swag, reviewing awesome products and living the rad mom life.

Posts tagged ‘travel’

In case you weren’t aware, there is a museum in Yokohama, Japan all about CupNoodles. Yes, like the 25 cent instant noodles you heat up in the microwave. Those noodles. Whole museum.

So you might be thinking, “What could I possible do at a CupNoodles museum? What on earth would I learn?!” Well, I’m here to tell you why you should visit this museum during your next trip to Japan!

There’s a park inside! Much like many shopping centers and museums in Japan, there is a place for the kiddos to play. It’s a giant area that’s made to look like the noodle manufacturing warehouse. There are slides and climbing and some interactive activities. It’s 300 yen for 30 minutes of play time and kids have to be at least 3 years old to enter. You will have to either book your time slot online or as soon as you get there. They also have lockers to store your items (the instructions to use them are entirely in Japanese) and no photos are allowed inside this particular area (although I saw someone with a legit camcorder) so keep that in mind!

Make your own Noodles! Head over to the factory to make your very own CupNoodles! At first, it looks like an overwhelming cluster of people, but Japan is a very methodical place and there is a system for everything. 🙂

First, you pay 300 yen for your cup and then you are assigned a table to color your cup. And don’t forget to snag your hat SWAG from the Noodles Park!

Once you’re done coloring, you can go get your cup filled with noodles and pick your toppings!

Then you take your cup over to be sealed and shrink-wrapped!

Then put your creation in a special bag, fill it with air, and tie some string around it for transportation purposes. Like I said, there is a system for everything!

Walls of Noodles! There is whole room within the museum where packages and cups of noodles line the walls. You can see how the noodles and packaging have changed throughout the years. It’s surprisingly displayed in a beautiful and artsy way!

See a movie! Stop by the theater to watch an animated movie discussing the history of Momofuku Ando (the CupNoodles creator). The movie is in Japanese, but you will be given a headset that translates the audio into English. The movie is actually very interesting, so I would not skip this exhibit!

Momofuku’s Shed! – After the movie head out the back door to tour a replica of Momofuku’s very own work shed. This is where Chicken Ramen, which is the first instant ramen, was created. You won’t believe how small it is!

Interactive Art! – Along some of the walls, there is interactive art that further explains Momofuku Ando’s actions and thoughts behind his inventions. This is also great for the kids!

More fun quotes and art! “Rather than a lone cedar, it is better to nurture a whole forest. No one has a monopoly on ideas.” ~Momofuku Ando

Eat Noodles and Shop! After roaming through the art exhibits, you can head up to the Noodles Bazaar and sample noodles from the around the world. Then, you can check out the museum shop or more photo props on your way out!

Get Inspired! My favorite thing about the CupNoodles Museum was the inspiration! Momofuku Ando was all about thinking outside the box and sharing ideas with others rather than keeping everything to himself. He was also very determined and persistent even during rough times. Coming into this museum, I thought I was just gonna learn about the history of instant noodles, but I left totally inspired and with a different perspective on life! I definitely recommend checking it out!

Museum logistics:

Parking – There is a small parking garage under the museum, but it’s a little pricey so the train may be a better choice.

Hours/Admission – 10:00-18:00 and 500 yen per person. Check the website for special closings.

Location – The museum is located in Yokohama – close to other tourist attractions like the Landmark Tower and Cosmo World. You could spend a couple of hours here and then easily hit up some other Yokohoma hot spots!

So next time you are in Yokohama, check out the CupNoodles Museum and score some knowledge and inspiration!

Like this:

Disclaimer: I received two pairs of Knockaround Premium Polarized Sunglasses to review as part of being a BibRave Pro. Learn more about becoming a BibRave Pro (ambassador), and check out BibRave.com to review find and write race reviews!

Winter is finally fading away, Spring is ramping up, and Summer is right around the corner. What does that mean?? It means the SUN is coming out and shining brighter than ever (for real, the sun shines bright at 5:30 am here in Japan). So it’s perfect timing to test out some new shades! I chose the Rubber Mint/Aqua Preumium Polarized Knockaround sunglasses to try, but I also received a bonus pair! Yay for SWAG! 🙂

I’m all about wearing sunglasses and I feel like you can never have too many pairs! Another fun fact about Japan – people here don’t wear sunglasses! That’s right, even on a bright day you’ll see most people wearing hats or holding umbrellas to block the sun. If you catch anyone in shades, chances are they are a tourist, an expat, or Yakuza (Japanese mafia). It’s also Wisteria season here and these flowers create very whimsical scenery!

When I first saw the black frames, I kind of thought they had a masculine appearance…but I actually liked how they looked with the green lenses! I always like to have a black pair of shades in my stash because black goes with almost anything!

After “knocking around” in my black frames, I took the Rubber Mint/Aqua shades for a spin! I took them around Japan and despite the light-colored lenses, these did a really great job of blocking out the sun! And even though the word “rubber” is in the description, they are really smooth and don’t pull your hair or anything.

Then I had to put them to the true test – How would they do on a RUN?

These sunglasses are super lightweight, so I was surprised that they didn’t budge during my run – and they even held up in the wind! I also didn’t have any issues with the lenses fogging up which is something that can be super annoying.

And the best part about Knockaround sunglasses? They are SUPER affordable! The Polarized Premiums are only $20! I’ve lost expensive sunglasses in the past plus I have small children who have complete disregard for my accessories, so I don’t have to stress too much if I lose these guys (although I would still be sad).

Here are some other things I love about these Polarized Premium Knockarounds:

Bigger frames – I like larger lenses so it blocks out more of the sun!

Overall, I really like these sunglasses and plan to wear them frequently! The only negative I found was that the lenses weren’t the easiest to clean, but I may try a different cloth and see if that works.

And just to make things sweeter, you can save 20% on your own pair with code “BIBRAVEKNOCKS”! Plus free shipping on orders over $50!

And join me on #Bibchat on Twitter on 5/8/18 at 6PM PST for your chance to win a pair! 🙂

So are you ready to “knock around” in a new pair of shades?? This guy is…

You may have noticed that the scenery has changed a bit in my pictures and that’s because it HAS! That’s because a few months ago I relocated from sunny Southern California to The Land of the Rising Sun (seriously, the sun rises crazy early).

So I thought I would share what I’ve been up to and what I’ve learned over the last few months!

Trains are the way of life. I’m still trying to navigate the train systems – like figure out if I need to be on a local or express train. I had never been on a train before living here, so this has been quite the experience. There is also train etiquette – everyone is pretty quiet and you don’t invade other people’s space. They are also very clean! This is kind of surprising since public trash cans aren’t as common as they are in the U.S.

Noodles are on every corner. You won’t find many drive thru fast food restaurants here with the exception of a McDonald’s here and there, but you will find sushi and noodles spots everywhere! And ramen is amazeballs here!

No drink refills. Unlike dining in the U.S., you will have to pay for each cup of soda in most restaurants. But you will get unlimited water and many places have pitchers of ice water right on the table! Also, there is no tipping and the servers rarely check on you because they want you to enjoy your meal without being interrupted.

Treats are everywhere! While we are on the topic of food, you will also find donut shops, ice cream, pastries, crepes, etc. on almost every block. Sweets are a big deal here and it’s all delicious! You will also find KitKat bars in all types of flavors like wasabi and wine flavor!

Starbucks isn’t the same. You will find Starbucks all over Japan, but their drink options aren’t quite the same as they are in the U.S. (no pumpkin spice lattes here) 😦 And the drinks are also a little sweeter than they are back home, but I’ve tried some interesting flavors as well like the Almond Milk and Granola Frappuccino!

Vending machines. Speaking of coffee, you can find it in any vending machine. Cold or HOT! That’s right, you can get hot coffee, tea, or hot chocolate right out of the vending machine! And you literally can’t walk more than 10 steps without passing a vending machine in Japan.

Toilets. Toilets are either really fancy or really primitive. 😉

Playgrounds. The parks in Japan are unlike anything you’ve ever seen! So much larger and complete with streams, bouncy areas, zip lines, roller coaster slides, etc. Even the adults have a great time!

Manhole covers. You can find art everywhere you look, including the street! Even the manhole covers are beautifully painted!

Nature. You really don’t have to go far to appreciate the nature in Japan! There are gardens everywhere, beautiful forests, and the trees are so unique and gorgeous!

Temples. Temples are everywhere and they are quite sacred so do as the locals do as respect the grounds. Also visit the Big Buddha! It looks just the way it does in the history books!

Narrow Roads. The roads are pretty narrow here which takes some getting used to…as well as the whole driving on the left side of the road deal. There’s also tons of pedestrians so you gotta watch out for people riding bikes and crossing the street.

Tokyo. Tokyo is enormous. There are so many different districts and things to look at…you could easily get lost for days in this city. Harajuku has some pretty amazing shopping spots and the architecture is unique and beautiful! Shibuya Crossing (Pedestrian Scramble) is insanely busy and a great place to sit and watch all the traffic!

The people. The people here are so friendly and many will try to speak as much English as they can when speaking to you. They are so polite and will help you if you are lost!

I’m still adjusting to this new life, but trying to enjoy the ride. 🙂 Stay tuned for more updates on Japan and I will continue to share the SWAG as much as I can!

If you have tiny humans that LOVE Paw Patrol then you’ll want to load them up and head to the nearest Roll Patrol Road Tour! This is different than the PAW Patrol Live! Tour and bonus: It’s free! So if it’s not in your budget to attend the PAW Patrol Live! Tour then I definitely recommend checking out the Road Tour. Here’s a little preview of what awaits you and your little PAW Patrollers at the Roll Patrol Road Tour!

If you want to guarantee an entry into Adventure Bay and save yourself a little time, then preregister your family online. If not, you may have to wait in a longer line and register on a tablet at the actual event.

You will then be given a wristband and the fun will be begin!

The kids will love spending oodles of time in this life size and interactive PAW Patroller! They can spend time in the command center, look out upon Adventure Bay, pose for photo ops, take a spin on the slide, and much more!

They can also pick their favorite PAW Patrol car and pedal along a kid-sized track!

Then head over to the play table area to try out the newest PAW Patrol toys!

And have a blast at the kinetic sand table! I really loved this stuff!

And keep a lookout for an opportunity to meet your fave PAW Patrol characters!

Every location is a bit different, but at our event: Chase was on the case, Skye took to the sky, and Marshall was all fired up! You will also receive a free printed photo at your meet and greet to commemorate your day!

So was there any SWAG?!

Well the event was free so it’s kind of swag in itself. BUT we did get photos and some sweet headwear!

A couple of things to know:

Plenty of staff were on hand to keep things safe and organized.

The event is outside so prep for the elements. It was really hot the day we attended.

The event is free – but preregister to guarantee entry! Also, many of the Roll Patrol events are held within another event. For example, this event was an attraction within the county fair. So fair admission prices were still in place.

It can get crowded so be prepared!

There’s a lot of interaction on the tour, but nothing to actually purchase (i.e. toys).

Every location could be a little different, so what you see here may be slightly different than what would be at your event. Check the event page for more details!

So I’ve had the pleasure of flying twice with kiddos. Last year I flew alone with my 18-month old daughter via Southwest (Bags fly free!). Just recently I flew with my husband, 3-year-old daughter and 10-month old son via Alaska Airlines (Active Duty Military is allowed 5 free bags!). Here’s a brief comparison of the two experiences:

Southwest

Us on the Southwest flight –

TSA lines: Be prepared to have milk/formula tested, hands swabbed, and car seats thoroughly examined. So factor in time for all of those extra tasks. I recommend wearing babies/toddlers if possible ~ it’s easier to be hands-free without worrying if your tiny person is going to try and wander off at any given moment. I also recommend a Go Go Babyz Travelmate because it is helpful to have wheels on your car seat if you plan to bring it along. And it does fold up small enough to fit inside of an overhead bin.

Boarding the plane: Southwest doesn’t offer assigned seating, you are just assigned a boarding group (A, B, or C) and a position (1-60). The earlier you check-in the closer to the front of the line you can be. So their boarding goes a little like this: Group A – Family Boarding – Group B – Group C. I felt that boarding during the “Family” time gave me sufficient enough time to get situated and seated without being too much in the way. I chose to bring the car seat along on the plane and have my daughter sit in it during the flight. She really seemed to like having her own special seat on the plane. However, the flight attendants were a bit perplexed as to how to strap the seat in and were confused about all the rules surrounding car seats on a plane. Apparently people don’t bring their car seats on planes often and I was really surprised that they weren’t up to speed on car seat procedures. In fact, they were even kind of rude about it which was even more surprising. The only thing they did know was that the car seat had to be placed in a window seat.

Layovers: One in Kansas City which was super boring since it is a really small airport. One in Nashville which was actually not too bad because they have a kid’s play area. ALL airports should have this! Starbucks was also nice enough to give me a free cup of milk for my daughter.

Swag: Basic airplane stuff – peanuts/chips, beverages, headphones. Also to note: they don’t offer milk on the plane, so bring that with you!

Overall, I would give this experience a B-

Alaska

Us on the Alaska flight –

TSA lines: Similar to the previous flight; however, we flew back a few days after Thanksgiving which made for horribly long lines. One agent did give my daughter a TSA badge sticker which kept her distracted for .7 seconds. Get there early if you plan to travel with kids during the holidays! I also used the Alaska mobile app this time which made checking in and flight tracking easier.

Boarding the plane: Alaska does offer assigned seating, but they also allow families with small children and active duty military to board before everyone else which eases some of the stress. The flight attendants seemed a little more knowledgeable about the car seat rules and actually checked the seat to confirm that it was airline-approved. Same rules as previously mentioned-the car seat has to go in the seat closest to the window. I also learned that the car seat can’t go in the very first row because of the air belt. And only children 30 lbs and above may sit in that row.

Layovers: None this time, just a very long 5 hour flight each way with some antsy kids. I counted down the hours and minutes with the handy app that I previously mentioned.

Departing the plane: It took us so long to get off the plane that we actually got to baggage claim too late. Thankfully, a representative from Alaska Air held our luggage in the office and came and found us in the airport. They get bonus points! 🙂

Swag: We flew coach on our way to FL and First Class (thanks Mimi) on the way home. So along with the basic airplane swag, we also received a whole meal, dessert, bottled water, extra snacks, and a hot towel (which I’m still unsure as to what the purpose of a hot towel on a plane is). And my daughter even scored this sweet kids pack:

Overall, I would give this experience an A- Only because my son was upset half the flight and there was a seating mishap which made things a little stressful.

My final tips: Pack light and allot yourself extra time and patience! Also bring suckers for not only a distraction/treat, but it also helps with the ear popping. And keep diapers and wipes within reach because it’s a tight squeeze between the rows and you don’t want to be digging around your bag for supplies with a screaming/kicking baby.